Carroll County Agriculture Center, Inc.
Website: http://www.carrollcountyagcenter.com/
For articles on “Soundtrack” about the Carroll Co. Ag Center
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702 Agriculture Center Drive, Westminster, MD 21158
PRESS RELEASE
July 31, 2002
Building for the Next Century - Honoring the Past, Focusing on the Future
Construction will begin on the new Danele Shipley Memorial Arena immediately after the completion of the 2002 Carroll County 4-H and FFA Fair. The building will be completed in time for the 2003 Carroll County 4-H and FFA Fair.
MSG Associates of Columbia, Maryland is the contractor for the project. Charles J. Miller Excavating of Hampstead, Maryland is performing the site preparation work. Probst-Mason, Inc Architects has designed and is overseeing the project. The arena is named in honor of Danele Shipley a late Carroll County teacher known for her dedication to 4-H
Project background:
In 1995 the members of the Ag Board started to address the need to replace the animal barns on the lower section of the property. The present barns are more than showing their age. They constantly require maintenance before each fair, and have very limited use other than for the fair as they can only be used for animals and have no walls, no heat and are not handicapped accessible.
The first plans for the new building were drawn up in 1997. In response to community input, the Board spent many months in 1998 exploring additional options for the building. The current location was determined in 1999, and the design was started all over again. The design has changed considerably over the years, with additions and changes based on feedback from committee members, board members, Fair Board, neighbors and County departments. The result is exciting and shows foresight with regard to the Fair's needs and other educational opportunities and economic opportunities for the Citizens of Carroll County. Carroll County needs to not only preserve agricultural land, but we need to also preserve and expand the business of agriculture. This building will help preserve a future for agriculture in Carroll County.
The new facility will be constructed consisting of a 150’ x 350’ (52,500 square feet) clear span arena with an eave height of sixteen (16) feet. The rear of the building will have a food service area, storage and mechanical rooms and bathrooms with showers extending out from, and along side of, the rear arena wall measuring 25’ x 160’ (4,000 square feet). The front of the building will have two offices, bathrooms and an entrance measuring 33’ x 126’ (4,158 square feet) extending out from and along the side of the front arena wall. The building will have a total of 60,658 square feet.
The new facility will allow year round use. The new arena can be used to better serve the educational needs of the agriculture community, the constantly growing 4-H programs, the Carroll County 4-H and FFA Fair, and the expanding Carroll County 4-H Youth Development Program. When not in use by the Carroll County Agriculture Center members, the new arena will provide a facility for other exhibition and educational activities of public interest. The people that attend these activities will have a positive impact on the future of the Ag Center and the economy of Carroll County.
The building, as designed, is an open flexible use space. The ventilation is designed for livestock and the building has heat to allow year round usage for 4-H programs, FFA, livestock sales, community groups and any number of other educational and exhibition uses. The new building is also handicapped accessible; so all members of our community will have access. This new building changes a portion of the Ag Center property from a single-use area to a multi-use facility. This allows us to better meet the needs of all of our constituents, the Fair, 4-H, Carroll Kennel Club, many educational groups and various community groups and clients.
Funding
The initial community fund raising effort in 1997 raised $1,000,000 in cash and in-kind gifts for the $4.3 million building. Another $600,000 will be spent in site preparation costs. The project has also received $1,000,000 in grants from the State of Maryland. Additional fund raising together with county bond authorization of up to $2.5 million will enable completion of the project. This project demonstrates the history and tradition of community support for the Carroll County Agriculture Center, since Burns Hall was first built in 1954.
As the building project begins, the construction phase fund raising is also under way. Contributions can be at the Carroll County 4-H and FFA Fair or sent to the Carroll County Agriculture Center at 702 Agriculture Center Drive, Westminster, MD 21158. Pictures of the building will be on display at the Carroll County 4-H and FFA Fair. For more information call 410 848-6704.
Ag Center Background
The Carroll County Agriculture Center, Inc. was created in March of 1954 exclusively for “charitable, educational and scientific purposes.” It is still made up of the original seven member groups: Farm Bureau, Young Farmers, Farm Bureau Women, Homemakers (now Family Community Education), the Pomona Grange, 4-H All Stars and 4-H leaders. Standing Committees of the Ag Center include other groups, such as the Fair Board, the Farmers Market and 4-H Therapeutic Riding. It provides a permanent site for the annual Carroll County 4-H and FFA Fair and other agriculturally related activities. In 1968 the Ag Center was granted tax-exempt status under the provision of Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
The Mission of the Ag Center is:
To provide for agriculture related activities and educational programs.
To support the 4-H, Future Farmers of America, Grange and similar groups within Carroll County, Maryland.
To provide an accessible facility for use by supported groups, other charitable and educational organizations and the general public.
To pass to the future generations of Carroll County, a rich agricultural heritage.
The Ag Center Goals are:
To improve the facility in order to better provide services.
To better serve our target groups.
To increase the participation of the general community in our activities.
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